Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Author: A Dose of God Today

  • “#Familygoals #Friendshipgoals with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

    “#Familygoals #Friendshipgoals with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

    June 16, 2019 – Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

    PRV 8:22-31

    Thus says the wisdom of God:
    “The LORD possessed me, the beginning of his ways,
    the forerunner of his prodigies of long ago;
    from of old I was poured forth,
    at the first, before the earth.
    When there were no depths I was brought forth,
    when there were no fountains or springs of water;
    before the mountains were settled into place,
    before the hills, I was brought forth;
    while as yet the earth and fields were not made,
    nor the first clods of the world.
    “When the Lord established the heavens I was there,
    when he marked out the vault over the face of the deep;
    when he made firm the skies above,
    when he fixed fast the foundations of the earth;
    when he set for the sea its limit,
    so that the waters should not transgress his command;
    then was I beside him as his craftsman,
    and I was his delight day by day,
    playing before him all the while,
    playing on the surface of his earth;
    and I found delight in the human race.”

    Responsorial Psalm                                                                                      PS 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

    R.  O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
    When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars which you set in place —
    What is man that you should be mindful of him,
    or the son of man that you should care for him?
    You have made him little less than the angels,
    and crowned him with glory and honor.
    You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
    putting all things under his feet:
    All sheep and oxen,
    yes, and the beasts of the field,
    The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea,
    and whatever swims the paths of the seas.

    ROM 5:1-5

    Brothers and sisters:
    Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,
    we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
    through whom we have gained access by faith
    to this grace in which we stand,
    and we boast in hope of the glory of God.
    Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions,
    knowing that affliction produces endurance,
    and endurance, proven character,
    and proven character, hope,
    and hope does not disappoint,
    because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts
    through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

    JN 16:12-15

    Jesus said to his disciples:
    “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
    But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,
    he will guide you to all truth.
    He will not speak on his own,
    but he will speak what he hears,
    and will declare to you the things that are coming.
    He will glorify me,
    because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
    Everything that the Father has is mine;
    for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine
    and declare it to you.”

    The Gospel of the Lord.

    Homily

    Last summer, I have noticed the many posts in Instagram and Facebook that used #familygoals or #friendshipgoals. Many families and group of friends spent time together to bond through their summer escapade and vacation. It was just wonderful to see families and friends coming together to celebrate the gift of family and friendship.

    Aside from this, there is another #familygoal and #friendshipgoal that show us a deeper meaning of what family and friendship are really all about. What I am referring about is the feast that we celebrate this Sunday, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.

    Moreover, today as a parish, we also celebrate in a very special way the feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. It would be good for us then, to see and discover through our readings the invitations for us today.

    trinity

    The Book of Proverbs tells us how the wisdom of God nurtures life. The wisdom of God creates and recreates, animates and gives life. This tells us of the love of the Father-Creator that overflows to us, to every living and non-living being. This wisdom is manifested in the many wonders that we witness in our world. So, look around you, see and realize how the wisdom of God is revealed to us everyday. This, indeed, is #familygoal #friendshipgoal with the Father-Creator whose wisdom gives and nurtures life.

    Moreover, in the letter of Paul to the Romans, St. Paul expressed his #friendshipgoal with Jesus. Paul personally felt and experienced God’s love and forgiveness for him through the person of Jesus. In fact, Paul was overwhelmed by this love and affection showed by Jesus to him. Paul could not even imagine it on how Jesus would appear to him and forgive him and still love him after all those persecutions and evil that he had done. Thus, Paul also experienced such confidence of being loved as a friend and as a son. This is, certainly, #familygoal for Paul with Jesus.

    In today’s Gospel too, Jesus gave comfort to his friends who felt anxious and worried because he was leaving soon. As a friend and brother to the disciples, Jesus will not leave them alone. Jesus will never abandon them. Consequently, the Holy Spirit comes to give support, guidance, comfort and confidence to us, disciples of the Lord, who are anxious, fearful and doubtful. This is the best expression of God to us because He comes to give us peace and confidence, dispelling our fears and anxieties. Certainly, this is also our own #familygoal and #friendshipgoal with the Holy Spirit.

    Such manifestation of God is also very evident in the life of Mary, Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Mary was a wonderful creation of the Father-Creator. Mary is a dear and special daughter of God, most favored among all women. Why? Aside from that she was chosen, Mary had an intimate friendship with God. That’s why, through her, the Word of God was made flesh and dwelt among us, making himself one of us and for us.

    This is the very reason why she became the mother of Perpetual Help because she brought closer to us the giver of life, the source of wisdom, the spring of love and mercy, the Prince of Peace. All of this was made possible by God because Mary was a very close friend of God and a true daughter of the Father.

    Now, we realize how the Blessed Trinity – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, manifest in the Bible and in our own lives. There is a need now for us to be constantly aware of God’s presence so that we too will become more grounded in our faith and as well us in our many relationships.

    So, there are three hash tags that I want you to remember and to hold on as we continue to live our Christian life.

    First, #Nurturing. As God the Father nurtures the whole creation, as a person nurture your talents and gifts so that you may be able to develop and realize your every potential in the way God desires it. As a parent, leader or professional nurture the people who are under your care so that they too will be able to realize their potentials.

    Second, #BuildFriendship. As Jesus came and dwelt among us, he encountered people personally by building friendship with them. This is evident on how he gathered and called his disciples. Through a personal encounter, Jesus built lasting and intimate friendships. Thus, as a person, make friends not enemies by showing kindness and generosity towards others.

    Third, #ReachOut. When Jesus was about to ascend to heaven, he promised that the Holy Spirit shall come upon us to remind, teach and guide us on our way to God. This is God’s way of reaching out to all of us from one generation to another. Through the Holy Spirit, God’s presence dwells in us. That is why, be daring enough to reach out to others, make your presence felt by those who need a friend. Be bold enough to extend and give yourself for the sake of others, for that brother or sister who may be struggling right now. Be there for that person. Be God’s presence for those who are troubled.

    In this way, then, we will be able to share in the loving and intimate friendship of the Most Holy Trinity – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Moreover, the Trinity also will become truly alive in our lives, not just in our words and gestures but also through our generous and kind actions. Hinaut pa.

     

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • A makeover through the grace of Reconciliation

    A makeover through the grace of Reconciliation

    June 15, 2019 – Saturday 10th Week in OT

    2 Cor 5:14-21; Mt 5:33-37

    The letter of St Paul that we have heard today reflects the reality that Paul himself experienced. Through his encounter with the risen Jesus, Paul saw new things in his life. Paul realized too how Jesus renewed him and his spirit. It was through forgiveness of the past that Paul was able to receive the wonder of being made new.

    Through his personal encounter with Jesus, he too experienced “a makeover” by Jesus. It started with the makeover of the heart of Paul. Paul became welcoming of Jesus and of the many revelations that Jesus gave to Paul. Paul also became more familiar to the words of Jesus, and thus, of the will of God, of what God desires rather than his personal desires.

    a new creation

    As a result, that makeover of the heart of Paul overflowed to his actions and words. Paul began to see new things. From being persecutor of the Christians, he became an apostle. From treating the Christians brutally, Paul became accommodating, generous and kind not just to Christians but to all. Paul began to see the world differently; from his anger and hatred, Jesus made Paul’s heart and mind to see the world as Jesus sees it. Thus, Paul saw and found his true self before Jesus. He also realized the goodness of others, the beauty of God’s creation.

    This complete change or “makeover” in the life of Paul was made possible because he was reconciled with his dark past and with God. This brought Paul to fully believe in the transforming love of Jesus for him.

    This tells us now that when we also become reconciled with our dark and painful past, then we begin to see new things. By accepting that we are loved and forgiven, we shall also find our true self that is treasured and cherished by God.

    To have that experience of makeover in our life, then, this will surely be translated into our words and actions. Though, the makeover in our life will be on our spiritual and emotional aspect, but then, it will overflow in the way we relate with others.

    This is what Jesus reminds us in the Gospel today. In the life of Paul, he became a man of integrity and generosity. He was indeed an honest, kind and generous person that is why, people believed in his testimony about Jesus. The people, certainly, had witnessed personally how the words of Jesus were manifested in the life of Paul, not just in his preaching but also in the way he treated the people around him.

    This is the invitation for us today. Jesus calls us to be reconciled with our past so that we will be able to find and realize the beauty of being renewed, of being forgiven and loved.

    Seek now the grace of reconciliation by being daring enough to confront our sinful and selfish ways, by being bold enough to be reconciled with the person to whom our relationship has become cold and sour, and by being open enough to allow God to transform us through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

    And hopefully, this experience of makeover by Jesus in us will also lead us to become persons with integrity, of generosity and kindness not just in our words but also in our actions. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Selfish desires?… Cut them off, says Jesus

    Selfish desires?… Cut them off, says Jesus

    June 14, 2019 – Friday 10th Wk in OT

    2 Cor 4:7-15; Mt 5:27-32

    “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away… if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.” – Mt. 5: 29-30

    Paul reminds us that each of us is mere earthen vessel or clay jar. Yet, as simple jars made of clay, God blesses us. This reminds us that we are vulnerable and can easily be broken. However, St. Paul also tells us that even though we are suffering, but we are not constrained, we remain free. We might have been persecuted and insulted but we are not abandoned because God remains faithful to us. We may be struck down by our failures and sins but not destroyed because God remains merciful to us.

    Human as we are, we fail and sin. However, this is not an excuse not to desire perfection and holiness before God. In fact, the Gospel reminds us to be more aware of our selfish tendencies so that we will be able to respond to the temptations that may come to us.

    What Jesus told us in the Gospel is not meant to be understood literally. “If your right eye causes you to sin, then, tear it out and throw it away,” or “if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away” – if this is to be understood literally, then, each of us here will have no eyes and hands or even more than that.

    cut it off

    Remember, our bodies are also temples of the Holy Spirit, vulnerable like the clay jar but blessed and consecrated by the Holy Spirit. Jesus actually wants us to cut off sin from our system that only separates us from Him and from others.

    Thus, if our thoughts are filled with lust and evil thoughts, then, Jesus wants us to stop that, and instead fill our thoughts with God’s word. Read the bible, then.

    If our heart is filled with anger and hate, fill it with God’s forgiveness and peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

    If our hands remain close to those who need our help, then, open them and express your gratefulness to God by extending help and kindness to people around us.

    If our feet remain tangled with fear of taking risks, then, free your feet from fear and take the risk of building close and intimate relationship with others. Go and come nearer to your loved ones, spend more quality time with them.

    If our eyes will only tend to see what is ugly, negative and imperfect, then, open our eyes wider to see and realize the beauty of others, the wonders of the world and the goodness of our neighbors.

    In this way, then, we lessen our tendency to feed our insatiable desire for self-gratification. We begin to see others rather than ourselves alone. We become more self-giving rather than self-serving.

    This will allow us to deepen our relationships, whether in marriage, or in the context of a family with children, or among friends and colleagues.

    Indeed, Jesus calls us to become persons not driven by selfish desires, but to become persons driven by the desire to love and to give one self for others, like Mary, the mother of our Lord. Mary is a person who truly desires to love give herself for God and for others Hinaut pa.

     

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • What fulfills you?

    What fulfills you?

    June 12, 2019 – Wednesday of the 10th Week in OT

    2 Cor 3:4-11; Mt 5:17-19

    “I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” – Mt 5:17b

    What brings you to life? What drives you and keeps you everyday? What fulfills your day? Our answers might range from God, family, children, wife or husband, community, or our job and precious career. There is always a reason why we get up in the morning and continue to live on. We get inspirations from people around us, and that keep us going.

    For most of us, it is very important that at the end of the day we feel fulfilled in our life. However, when we find ourselves unfulfilled, we feel disappointed and depressed.

    That’s is why it is very important too that we are aware of the things that motivate and inspire us. By being able to know the reason why we do things, do sacrifices and make decisions, we become grounded and mature in our relationships.

    what fulfills you

    In the Gospel, we have heard an argument between the Jewish leaders and Jesus. They thought that Jesus abolished the Law and Prophets, which composed the whole tradition of their people. For them, the Law and the Prophets, and all those teachings were the fundamentals of their faith. The commandments written in the scriptures motivated them to live as faithful Jews.

    However, Jesus himself denied that he abolished the law and the teachings of the prophets and the whole tradition of the Hebrew Scriptures. Jesus is actually the fulfillment of the promises in the whole Hebrew Scriptures. The person of Jesus is the very inspiration of the scriptures.

    But then, the Jewish leaders missed the whole point. They were not able to recognize Jesus, the true inspiration. They focused more on themselves, on what they can gain and on their privileged status.

    This will happen also to us when we think that our achievements, awards, and titles are our main inspiration. Or when we believe that pleasing people around us will make us fulfilled. But, these will only make us anxious, fearful and unsatisfied.

    We are rather called to anchor ourselves to the most important part in our life, and that is, our relationships. These include our relationship with God and with one another, with our family and friends.

    Be grounded then with your relationship with God. The Bible will help us to have a good foundation of our relationship with Jesus. The Bible is truly alive with Jesus. Now, when we open our bible and pray with it, be aware that Jesus is certainly present in those words. Hopefully, we will be animated by Jesus who will give us life and fulfill our life. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

  • Encouraging others brings self-confidence and growth

    Encouraging others brings self-confidence and growth

    June 11, 2019 – Feast of St. Barnabas, Apostle

    Acts 11:21b-26;13:1-3; Mt. 5:13-16

    “a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith (Acts 11:24).”

    People who encourage others would always bring support and growth because encouragement nurtures confidence and hope. Parents who would give generous encouragements to their growing children would find children to be happier and lively. Teachers who would also express words of encouragements to their students would find them animated to perform well in their studies. It is also true among employers or corporate leaders. A leader who is generous in expressing encouragement to his/her workmates or colleagues or employees would surely find people around him or her to work confidently and competitively.

    Moreover, when words of encouragements are expressed whether at home, at school or at work, they lessen unnecessary stress, avoid unnecessary conflicts and rather promote self-confidence, trust and hope.

    This attitude of encouraging others had been shown to us through the person whose feast we celebrate today. St. Barnabas, an apostle, was a man of encouragement. During his lifetime, in his ministry, he never forgot to encourage people around him. In fact, it was through his encouragements, together with St. Paul, that they helped and nurtured the early Church to grow and to mature. It was in the Church of Antioch, through Barnabas too, that the Church is indeed Catholic or universal in its nature. In Antioch, Jews and Gentiles lived together. Despite the differences in culture, language, and history, the Church became one in faith but so dynamic and vibrant in living as Christians.

    Indeed, it was in Antioch that we, believers of Jesus, were first known as “Christians.” Thanks to that attitude of Barnabas, his encouragements to the first Christians made them confident in living together. Actually, the name Barnabas means, “the son of encouragement.”

    IMG_0293

    The Acts of the Apostles reminds us of the attitude of Barnabas that he was “a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith (Acts 11:24).” This tells us that when we welcome and allow the Holy Spirit to satisfy us, then, we also become discerning on how the Holy Spirit works in the life of those people around us. Certainly, we become familiar to the movements of the Spirit.

    This makes us then, to be become welcoming of others. We shall surely see more opportunities of growth and rooms for developments for ourselves and for those people around us. Accordingly, we see more value in expressing encouragement rather than in blurting out destructive criticisms that may only damage one’s self-confidence and the hope to redeem oneself after a failure.

    Thus, on this feast of Barnabas, each of us is being reminded and called to be more welcoming of the Holy Spirit in our life so that our hearts and minds will be filled with wisdom, understanding and compassion. In this way, then, we too shall become persons of encouragements that promote growth, confidence, trust and hope in our own context; whether at home, at school, at work, or wherever we are called to be. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR